At least three WA Police Officers were seen wearing the ‘thin blue line’ patch – symbolism said to be associated by right-wing groups – at a rally earlier this month by Friends of Palestine WA against Israeli escalations in Lebanon. The symbol, featuring a blue line through a black-and-white national flag, was seen attached to the vest of an officer on horseback, another on a bicycle, and another on foot.
In 2020, the Queensland Police Service launched an investigation after a member of the public posted on social media about an officer wearing the symbol at a Black Lives Matter protest in Brisbane, leading to public outrage. The badge also made headlines in Victoria after a leaked email sent by Tess Walsh, Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner warned employees against displaying the symbol saying, “No member is permitted to display the badge in any form on police uniform, equipment, vehicles or police premises. The badge is counter to our / your organisational values.”
WA Police did not respond to questions from The Junction about whether approval was sought or given for officers to wear the patches.
Despite its first appearance in the United States in the 1950s, its messaging changed during the BLM movement as far-right groups adopted it as a ‘pro-police’ symbol.
In 2017, a Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville saw far-right protesters carrying the flag, alongside Confederate flags. Some Trump supporters were also seen holding the flag as they stormed the Capitol in 2021.
Prior to the rally, WA Police warned of an increased police presence on social media saying, “WA Police enforces the law. It does not make the law.”
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Increased police presence at Perth rally. Photo: Razanne Al-Abdeli CC BY-NC-ND. -
Increased police presence at Perth rally. Photo: Razanne Al-Abdeli CC BY-NC-ND. -
Increased police presence at Perth rally. Photo: Razanne Al-Abdeli CC BY-NC-ND.
Banner targeted by WA Police
According to UNICEF, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have seen nearly 1000 children injured, and at least 127 children killed. Perth resident Amira and her Lebanese-Australian husband, Mohamad, both attendees at the rally, said these attacks have felt very personal.
“When I was 11, I visited Auschwitz, where my grandfather’s mother and brother were killed. I was surprised that the camp was in a regular town, not hidden. I couldn’t understand why no one tried to stop it when what was happening was clearly visible,” Amira said.
At a young age, Amira said her mother emphasised how a lack of action at that time was largely driven antisemitic beliefs against Jewish communities.
“Now we are witnessing something similar, where crimes are being committed openly, and many people stay silent either out of fear, Islamophobia or because the media portrays the issue as complicated,” she said.
Mohamad, who has family in both the north and south parts of Lebanon, said his community has experienced great loss of friends and family, including children, in Israeli attacks.
“For me and my family the loss of any civilian life, particularly women and children, bears heavily on our hearts and conscience. For sure I can look away and grant myself reprieve but I consider that to be the epitome of narcissism. How can it be anything else?” he said.
Amira and Mohamad carried a banner that read: ‘Israel kills kids. Hold them accountable.’ They say WA Police stopped them three times.
“Within minutes of the march, I noticed a male officer pointing at the banner and wagging his finger. Knowing we were not carrying anything illegal, we continued until we were requested to remove it again,” he said.
In response to the incident, a WA Police Spokesperson told The Western Independent, “Police received a number of complaints regarding the banner, including from members of the public who were accompanied by children. The complaints related to the banner being insulting, offensive and disturbing. While the banner was not inherently unlawful, police negotiated with the event organisers and marshals for the banner to be displayed in a less prominent way.”
Mohamad rejects that account. “They didn’t negotiate with us, they intimidated us,” he said.
Nick Everett, Friends of Palestine WA chairperson believes politics around the upcoming federal election may be to blame for the conduct of WA Police, which he said was ‘unreasonable’.
“The Albanese government does not want mass protests about this issue in the lead up to the federal election,” he said.
